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Charbel Sader showcases his artistic creations at the Cheriff Tabet Gallery, nestled on Abdel Wahab El Inglizi Street in the heart of Achrafieh. The exhibition, aptly named “First Impression,” is a solo display of his work, available for viewing until the March 8.
Upon entering the gallery, one is immediately transported into a fairy-tale world imagined by Charbel Sader, where strong, vibrant colors meet black and white drawings. Visitors are invited to explore the artist’s thoughts and imagine with him a world of feelings that oscillate between joy and pain.
A self-taught artist, Charbel Sader has already participated in several group exhibitions, including two solo shows in Lebanon. “Art is what most distinguishes artists from other human beings, thanks to creativity,” he asserts.
He uses realistic elements in his pen-and-ink drawing creations, crafting subconscious scenes, as if dreamed in black and white. These drawings feature imaginary figures, characters and hybrid creatures randomly colliding on cardboard, forming scenes where the violence of the compositions is expressed in different shades of black.
The artist masters the art of creating shadow and light effects, alternating between dark and light visions, and eliciting a sense of deliberate unease, hence the term “dark art.”
Opposite these dark works, a series of acrylic paintings offers bright and strong colors that stand out against the grays. These pure abstractions also encourage reflection to discover landscapes and imaginary scenes, manifested through carefully highlighted shapes and colors.
The use of the brush to create light and depth effects is enhanced by spatula strokes, bringing life and joy to these vibrant canvases. The curves, lines and intelligent mixing of colors reveal balanced and harmonious forms, captivating the observer’s eye.
The artist emphasizes that “art should not be limited to aesthetics; it must also stimulate the soul to transcend life and human relationships.” By visiting this exhibition, one engages in a moment of emotion, where reflection and imagination meet observation.
The exhibition also highlights semi-abstract Lebanese landscapes at the entrance of the gallery, soothing the extremism of the two opposing spaces where joy and pain coexist. This is another poignant artistic moment to discover at the Cheriff Tabet Gallery, which plans to soon transport a selection of works by some of the artists it represents to New York for a unique exhibition in the Big Apple.
